I can’t say I have - personally - encountered any, and less so any corruption likely to benefit me.

After many many years here in Spain, I can say I have never handed over an extra penny (coima) to get something done, nor have I ever been asked for a “kick-back”. Sure, I have on occasion bought a good box of chocolates or gift for a person in an office (public or private) who was more than helpful.

Has there been corruption in the construction, planning and development sectors? There certainly has. It’s an area rather prone to corruption, not just in Spain. Ireland is an example, during those boom years.

I don’t know that it comes under the heading of ‘direct corruption’ as such, but the fact that there are inept people that take our money - and get away with it even though their professions are ‘regulated’ is IMO scandalous!

Eg - The lawyer who is there to ‘represent your best interests’ and does little/nothing is rubbish and still demands their fee despite costing you a bomb and not getting a successful outcome (maybe they should be paid on a no win no fee!)

The car mechanic (whom you have known for years and always treated you well/you were happy to take your business to him time after time and also recommend him) - suddenly sells you a pup (and an expensive one at that!) and doesn’t seem to give a S**t that you are no longer going to use him again. EVER!

The (car on this occasion) Insurance co whom you have paid to ‘look after you in a crisis’ and when it comes to it - they do everything but! And even when you take the matter to the next highest level (after trying to reason with them), gets patted on the back by the Ombudsman (as in fact it is the Insurance co’s who pay their wages.)

Etc, etc

Guess I have been here too long.

But what can we do?

We either stay and work around it best we can and take each and every bad experience as a ‘lesson’ or, pack up and go home.. where it is just as bad I hear!

Spain Expat - the independent authority for expats living in Spain
Providing the most independently sourced information by expats for expats in Spain, including information about living in Spain, how to get Internet, learning Spanish, currency exchange, health care, medical insurance, cheap calls, free calls using VoIP, cell phones in Spain, how to get your visa for Spain, working issues and jobs, finding good cheap flights, available banking options, all kinds of information about moving here and finding apartments in Spain. Now with Spanorama, Top 7 lists.